Ice maker dispensing apparatus



1965 w. G. WINKLER ETAL 3225,98

ICE MAKER DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1964 INVENTORS.

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7271/ G. [002 naldffiwamo 1 Giza I 23, 1965 w. e. WINKLER ETAL 3,225,963

ICE MAKER DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 6, 1964 I I I I I "M A/ 7 I, Z I i 2 I Z T ,1 G I 1/ C 3,225,958 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 3,225,968 ICE MAKER DISiENSiNG APPARATUS Wynn G. Winlrler and Donald F. Swanson, St. Paul,

Minn., assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 335,853 10 Claims. (Cl. 222238) This invention relates to ice maker apparatus and in particular to means for dispensing ice bodies in such ice maker apparatus.

In one conventional form of ice maker apparatus, ice bodies are formed by suitable forming means, and in a harvesting operation are delivered to a collecting bin where they are stored for subsequent withdrawal by the user as desired. The present invention is concerned with an improved dispensing apparatus for moving the ice bodies from the collecting bin to a dispensing location accessible to the user. Thus, a principal feature of the invention is the provision of a new and improved means for dispensing collected ice bodies in an ice maker apparatus.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a dispensing means arranged to separate collected ice bodies which may have become joined as by freezing together in the collecting space.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a dispensing means including means for collecting a plurality of ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet, an auger conveyor for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and alternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet for agitating the same.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a dispensing means further including means at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the conveyor as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a dispensing means further including a second conveyor for moving the ice bodies from the outlet to the dispensing location and means for coordinating the operation of the conveyors whereby the second conveyor is precluded from operation when the first conveyor is moving the ice bodies in the direction other than toward the outlet to effect the desired separation thereof.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a dispensing means wherein the conveyors are driven from a single drive motor through selectively operable drive means for effecting the desired concurrent and individual operation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation, with portions broken away, of a dispensing means embodying the invention installed in an ice maker apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a right side elevation thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 44 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a dispensing apparatus generally designated is provided in an ice maker apparatus generally designated 11 for transferring collected ice bodies I from a collector space 12 to a dispensing location 13,

as shown in FIGURE 5. More specifically, the ice body dispensing means 10 includes a first conveyor generally designated 14 and a second conveyor generally designated 15 driven from an electric motor 16 through a drive generally designated 17 disposed at one side of the cabinet 18 of the ice maker 11.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, the ice maker space 12 is cooperatively defined by a bottom wall 19, rear wall 20, front wall 21, right side wall 18 and left side wall 22. The ice bodies which are delivered to the space 12 are collected therein in overlying relationship to the conveyor 14 which, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5, is disposed at the bottom of the space 12 within a cylindrical well portion 19a of the bottom wall 19. Herein, the conveyor 14 comprises an auger conveyor having an axial shaft 23 carrying on the left-hand portion a right feeding helical screw 24, and on the right-hand portion a left feeding helical screw 25 for directing the ice bodies through the space 12 to an outlet portion 26 of the space midway between the side walls 18 and 22. The ice bodies are so fed by the conveyor screw portions 24 and 25 when the rotation of the shaft 23 is in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 2.

It has been found that, in such ice bin collecting devices, the ice bodies may tend to stick together by a slight melting of the bodies and refreezing thereof in the collecting space 12. It is highly desirable that the ice bodies be separate one from another in the collecting space 12 during the dispensing operation so as to provide a uniform dispensing of the ice bodies. The present invention comprehends an improved operation of the conveyor 14 providing such desirable separation, or freeing, of the ice bodies one from another for improved dispensing thereof. More specifically, electric motor 16 herein comprises a reversible electric motor which drives the shaft 23 through a reduction gear device 27. Thus, when it is desired to free the ice bodies one from another the drive motor 16 is reversely operated to reverse the direction of movement of the ice bodies effected by the helical screws 24 and 25 and force them outwardly towards the right side wall 18 and the left side wall 22 defining the space 12. As best seen in FIGURE .4, a bafiie plate 28 is secured to the right side wall 18 and a bafiie plate 29 is secured to the left side Wall 22 for guiding the ice bodies upwardly away from the auger screws during this reverse operation thereof. As shown in FIGURE 4, the auger shaft 23 passes through suitable holes 30 in the bafiies 28 and 29 permitting the shaft to extend from the gear box 27 through the space 12 to an outboard bearing 31 carried on the left side wall 22. Thus, the ice bodies are prevented from jamming in the conveyor against the side walls and are caused to have a rolling or tumbling action effectively assuring the desired separation thereof one from another by the reverse operation of the auger conveyor 14.

The thusly separate ice bodies delivered to the outlet portion 26 of the space 12 are conveyed from the outlet space portion 26 to the dispensing location 13 by the second conveyor 15 which herein comprises an endless conveyor belt 32 provided with suitable cogs 33 for precluding slippage of the ice bodies on the belt during the conveying thereof from the outlet 26 to the dispensing location 13. As best seen in FIGURE 5, the belt 32 is trained about a relatively larger diameter drive wheel 34 adjacent the dispensing location 13 and a relatively small diameter driven wheel 35 adjacent the outlet 26. The space above the upper belt portion is enclosed in a duct 36 which precludes ice bodies from collecting on the belt 32 and also precludes slippage of the ice bodies from the belt back into the space 12 during the dispensing operation. As shown in FIGURE 3, the duct 36 is carried at the rear end on the bottom wall 19 and at its front end on the front wall 21.

The conveyor is driven from a pulley 37 carried on the auger shaft 23 between the right side wall 18 and the gear reduction unit 27, as best seen in FIGURE 4. Further, as shown in FIGURE 4, the gear reduction unit 27 is carried on a bracket 38 secured to the right side Wall 18 and in turn carries the motor 16. As shown in FIGURE 2, the bracket 38 may be secured to the side Wall 18 by suitable bolts 39.

The conveyor belt wheel 34 is carried on a shaft 40 which extends from the wheel 34 outwardly through right side wall 18 to be supported on the sidewall in a suitable bearing 41. A driven pulley 42 is secured to the shaft 40 outwardly of the right side wall 18 and is partially enclosed, as shown in FIGURE 4, in a housing 43. The pulley 42 is driven from the pulley 37 by a belt 44 which further engages an idler pulley 45 carried on an arm 46 pivotally mounted on a pivot 47 carried by bracket 39. The idler pulley is urged downwardly against the upper portion of the belt 44 by a coil spring 48 so as to bear against the belt 44 and maintain tension therein. Thus, when the pulley 37 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2, the idler pulley 45 is ineffective to maintain a positive driving engagement of the belt 44 with the driven pulley 42 whereby the conveyor 15 remains stationary while the auger shaft 23 is rotated to effect the desired reverse rotation of the auger causing the tumbling and freeing of the ice bodies one from another in the agitating action discussed above. However, when the pulley 37 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2, the idler pulley 45 maintains the belt under tension about the driven pulley 42. thereby operating the conveyor 15 to dispense the ice bodies delivered by the auger 14 to the outlet 26 by transferring the ice bodies from the outlet to the dispensing location 13. Thus, a positive drive of each of the conveyors 14 and 15 is effected by a clockwise rotation of the drive pulley 37 as seen in FIGURE 2 and operation of the auger 14 independent of the conveyor 15 is effected by a reverse or counterclockwise rotation of the pulley 37.

In use of the apparatus 10, the ice bodies are collected in space 12 in the conventional manner. When the user desires to obtain a quantity of ice bodies from the space 12, he effects, by suitable control means (not shown), operation of a motor 16 to drive the auger conveyor 14 so as to force a preselected quantity of the ice bodies along the well portion 1% of the bottom Wall 19 to the outlet portion 26 of the space 12. Operation of the drive motor 16 further concurrently effects operation of the conveyor 15 whereby the ice bodies delivered to the outlet space 26 are conveyed by the conveyor belt 32 to the dispensing location 13, as seen in FIGURE 5.

A conventional timer control 49 may be associated with the drive motor 16 for effecting operation of the drive motor in a reverse direction at periodic intervals such as for a period of six seconds every three hours to effect an automatic periodic separation of any of the ice bodies which may have become stuck together in the space 12. Such control devices are well-known in the art and need no further description herein.

As discussed above, the baflies 28 and 29 assist the conveyor screws 24 and 25 in providing an improved tumbling action to the ice bodies during the agitating or freeing operation so as to provide uniformly separated and freed ice bodies throughout the space 12 for use in subsequent dispensing operations.

While we have shown and described one embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the con struction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a collecting space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet;

conveyor means for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and a1- ternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet for agitating the same; and

means at said space and at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the conveyor means as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet and to said location and thereby agitating the ice bodies in said space.

2. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and having a dispensing outlet;

an auger in said space for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and alternatively in an opposite direction for agirating the ice bodies; and

means at said space and at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the auger as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet and to said location and thereby agitating the ice bodies in said space.

3. The apparatus of claim means comprises a fixed baffle.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said guiding means comprises a fixed bafiie carried on said space defining means at one end of said auger.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said auger includes right and left-hand feed portions, said outlet is adjacent the center of the auger and said guiding means comprises a pair of baffles at the opposite ends of the auger.

6. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a collecting space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet;

a first conveyor for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and alternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet for agitating the same;

bafile means at said space and at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the conveyor as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet and to said location and thereby agitating the ice bodies in said space; and

a second conveyor for moving the ice bodies from said outlet to a dispensing location.

7. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a collecting space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet;

at first conveyor for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and alternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet for agitating the same;

baffle means at said space and at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the conveyor as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet and to said location and thereby agitating the ice bodies in said space;

a second conveyor for moving the ice bodies from said outlet to a dispensing location; and

2 wherein said guiding means percluding operation of said second conveyor when said first conveyor is moving the ice bodies in said other direction.

8. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a collecting space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet;

a first conveyor for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and alternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet for agitating the same;

bafiie means at said space and at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the conveyor as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet and to said location and thereby agitating the ice bodies in said space;

a second conveyor for moving the ice bodies from said outlet to a dispensing location;

a drive motor;

means for operating said first and second conveyors from said drive motor; and

means precluding operation of said second conveyor when said first conveyor is moving the ice bodies in said other direction.

9. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a collecting space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet;

a conveyor for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the same and alternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet for agitating the same;

bafi le means at said space and at a location spaced from said outlet for guiding ice bodies away from the conveyor as a result of the movement of the ice bodies in said direction away from the outlet and to said location and thereby agitating the ice bodies in said space;

means for operating said conveyor seriatim to move said ice bodies in said other direction at preselected intervals.

10. Apparatus for dispensing ice bodies, comprising:

means defining a collecting space for containing a plurality of collected ice bodies and defining a dispensing outlet;

means at said space and spaced from said outlet for agitating said ice bodies as a result of a delivery of ice bodies thereto; and

conveyor means at said space for moving the collected ice bodies toward said outlet for dispensing the ice bodies and alternatively in a direction other than toward the outlet to said agitating means for agitating the ice bodies.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 874,475 12/1907 Yost 198110 1,491,401 4/1924 Hummelsbach 198217 X 1,836,537 12/1931 Lawrence 222272 X 2,936,909 5/1960 Gard 221200 X FOREIGN PATENTS 661,860 11/1951 Great Britain.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiners. 

10. APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING ICE BODIES, COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A COLLECTING SPACE FOR CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF COLLECTED ICE BODIES AND DEFINING A DISPENSING OUTLET; MEANS AT SAID SPACE AND SPACED FROM SAID OUTLET FOR AGITATING SAID ICE BODIES AS A RESULT OF A DELIVERY OF ICE BODIES THERETO; AND CONVEYOR MEANS AT SAID SPACE FOR MOVING THE COLLECTED ICE BODIES TOWARD SAID OUTLET FOR DISPENSING THE ICE 